A May to Remember: Inspo for Your Content Calendar
It’s hard to believe that we’re almost at a halfway point for 2024. While you should be reevaluating your goals, strategy, and progress consistently throughout the year, now is an especially great time to dive into any data you’re collecting. By analyzing what’s working and what’s not for the first half of the year, you can shift your strategy accordingly for better results in the months to come.
While you’re reflecting on what’s been working for your brand in the first half of the year, it’s also important to stay present by focusing on any monthly campaigns, holidays, and special occasions that can help your content stand out and boost sales around key moments. I’ll go over some key dates and events to inspire your May campaigns, as well as other seasonal strategies you can implement to mark the going of another 2024 season. Let’s dive in.
May: Key Events
With warmer weather, spring fits, and the tease of summer just around the corner, it’s no surprise that May is filled with exciting events and holidays. Depending on your business, these holidays can be a key way for you to show off some of your brand’s personality, engage with your consumers, and ultimately boost revenue without coming across as “salesy” or too promotional.
I’ve put together a list of May holidays to help get your marketing gears turning and inspire creative, memorable content that, while specific to these events, can leave a lasting impact on your brand voice, tone, and identity for years to come.
May 4 - May the Fourth (Star Wars Day). While super specific, Star Wars Day can be a great opportunity to reach a niche, targeted audience that will appreciate the content and feel a greater connection to your brand with this show of quirky personality.
May 5 - Cinco de Mayo. If using Cinco de Mayo as any part of your marketing strategy, be sure to do your research and handle the holiday with the right information instead of making it a blanket celebration of Mexican culture (which it is not).
May 4 - Kentucky Derby. Mint juleps, anyone? The Kentucky Derby can be another great way to reach a niche audience that will recognize, appreciate, and value a creative way to incorporate the event into your brand’s marketing strategy. From big hats to mint juleps, there are tons of ways you can feature your brand’s messaging within this theme.
May 12 - Mother’s Day. While many brands use Mother’s Day to promote sales, this is an opportunity to do something different and impactful that will capture the emotional aspect of this special occasion without coming across as too promotional or self-serving. Consider featuring a mother-daughter duo in your community, committing to compelling content that speaks to the journey of motherhood, or using the day to tell your own stories about Mother’s Day and giving your brand a more human, personable aspect.
May 27 - Memorial Day. Another significant May holiday, Memorial Day is an opportunity for your business to honor the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. Besides the generic Memorial Day social media post, consider doing a deeper dive into fallen heroes and using this day as a chance to give back to military members, veterans, and families. Remember that the day is more about a three-day weekend or summer kick-off. It’s a time to reflect on sacrifice and say thank you to our fallen heroes.
May is filled with holidays and events that give your brand many opportunities to show personality, give thanks, and build emotional connections with your audience. Take the time to strategize on what participating in any of these dates means to you and your brand, rather than just creating generic messaging without intention and impact.
May: Awareness Months
May is also a month filled with opportunities to explore awareness campaigns that highlight many communities and topics that impact our world. Below, I’ve listed three monthly observances that you can learn more about to inspire a more complex marketing strategy this month:
Stress Awareness Month. In our fast-paced, hustle and bustle world, it’s easy to get caught up in what feels like a constant rat race – which then inevitably takes a toll on our mental health. Take this time and use your platform to speak to what it means to really give yourself a break, show yourself grace, and stop comparing yourself to others. A well-crafted campaign can change someone’s life, and remembering that will take you a long way to putting out high-quality content.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. While diversity should be a key part of your materials year-round, May is a time to celebrate the many contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to our society. Consider doing a series of features or spotlights and supporting these communities in tangible ways that extend beyond a social media post.
End of spring. May is the last full month of spring, and this can be a great way for your brand to launch a seasonal transition campaign, promote new collections for the summer season, or clear out older inventory with a “spring cleaning for your business.”
There are many ways you can incorporate your brand into awareness campaigns this month. Hold yourself accountable for putting out high-quality, well-researched, intentional material that will impact your consumers as well as boost your bottom line.
Conclusion
With the halfway mark of 2024 around the corner, May offers many opportunities for marketing teams to put out meaningful content, engage with their communities, and use storytelling to inspire, educate, and connect with consumers. If you’re feeling stuck on any strategizing, I’m here to help. With over a decade of marketing experience helping brands create impactful campaigns, I’d love to work with you and create some marketing magic this May and beyond. Fill out the form to get started.
